Nerea Sebastián

Liquid-crystalline hybrid materials based on [60]fullerene and bent-core structures

What a core-ker! By the appropriate combination of promesogenic bent-core structures and the C(60) u2005unit, lamellar polar liquid-crystal phases were induced. The supramolecular organization of the functional fullerene-based assemblies, the temperature range of the soft phase, the stabilization of the mesophase-like order at room temperature, and the molecular switching under an electric field can be tuned, depending on the molecular structure.

Bent-rod liquid crystal dimers: synthesis and mesomorphic properties

The synthesis and characterization of three bent-rod dimers are reported. Very long flexible spacers that include methylene units and either a phenyl ring or a triazole moiety as connecting structures join the bent- and rod-promesogenic cores. Polarizing microscopy, modulated differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction at variable temperature and dielectric measurements have been performed to establish the mesophase behaviour of the dimers. The results show a complex supramolecular organization for this kind of flexible dimer in the mesophase. Interestingly, the length and the chemical nature of the flexible linking spacers condition the liquid crystalline properties of these novel compounds. Additionally, it has been found that the chemical structure of the rod-like core plays a key role in determining the kind of mesophase, either nematic or lamellar, formed by these materials.

Effect of Molecular Flexibility on the Nematic-to-Isotropic Phase Transition for Highly Biaxial Molecular Non-Symmetric Liquid Crystal Dimers

In this work, a study of the nematic (N)–isotropic (I) phase transition has been made in a series of odd non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers, the α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4’-yloxy)-ω-(1-pyrenimine-benzylidene-4’-oxy) alkanes, by means of accurate calorimetric and dielectric measurements. These materials are potential candidates to present the elusive biaxial nematic (NB) phase, as they exhibit both molecular biaxiality and flexibility. According to the theory, the uniaxial nematic (NU)–isotropic (I) phase transition is first-order in nature, whereas the NB–I phase transition is second-order. Thus, a fine analysis of the critical behavior of the N–I phase transition would allow us to determine the presence or not of the biaxial nematic phase and understand how the molecular biaxiality and flexibility of these compounds influences the critical behavior of the N–I phase transition.

Bent-core luminescent and electroactive bis(triazolyl)triazines with compact columnar mesomorphism

The bulk self-assembly of bent-core molecules based on the novel structure 2-methoxy-4,6-bis(1′,2′,3′-triazol-4′-yl)-1,3,5-triazine is reported together with their luminescent and electrochemical properties. Two families of compounds with lateral branches of different lengths have been investigated. Columnar mesomorphism with short stacking distances and periodic twisted structures were found. A compound exhibiting two hexagonal columnar mesophases that show different emission spectra and a transition from a bimolecular assembly to a unimolecular assembly is described.

Influence of the chain length on the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition for the odd members of a highly non-symmetric pyrene-based series of liquid crystal dimers

ABSTRACT This paper describes a detailed study of the nematic (N)-isotropic (I) phase transition in the homologous series of liquid crystal dimers, the α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4ʹ-oxy)-ω-(1-pyreniminebenzylidene-4ʹ-oxy)alkanes (CBOnO.Py) by means of calorimetric and dielectric measurements as a function of temperature. It is concluded that for this transition, the latent heat or the entropy change decreases as the chain length of the odd dimers decreases, and this decrease is consistent with the observed tricritical behaviour. Graphical Abstract

Dispersion of gamma-alumina nano-sized spherical particles in a calamitic liquid Crystal. Study and optimization of the confinement effects

We report an experimental study on confined systems formed by butyloxybenzylidene octylaniline liquid crystal (4O.8) + γ-alumina nanoparticles. The effects of the confinement in the thermal and dielectric properties of the liquid crystal under different densities of nanoparticles is analyzed by means of high resolution Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. First, a drastic depression of the N-I and SmA-N transition temperatures is observed with confinement, the more concentration of nanoparticles the deeper this depression is, driving the nematic range closer to the room temperature. An interesting experimental law is found for both transition temperatures. Second, the change in shape of the heat capacity peaks is quantified by means of the full width half maximum (FWHM). Third, the confinement does not noticeably affect the molecular dynamics. Finally, the combination of nanoparticles and the external applied electric field tends to favor the alignment of the molecules in metallic cells. All these results indicate that the confinement of liquid crystals by means of γ-alumina nanoparticles could be optimum for liquid crystal-based electrooptic devices.